Shiberghan may fall to Taliban, warns Jawzjan PC member

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): A Provincial Council (PC) member of northern Jawzjan province has termed the security situation as alarming in the province and warned against the fall of Shiberghan, the provincial capital.

It is worth mentioning the Taliban have laid siege to Shiberghan City over the past two weeks and they daily attack the city.

Maulvi Abdul Hai Hayat, a PC member, told reporters about deteriorating security situation in the city and added firefight outside the city could be heard.

“From the past two and a half weeks Shiberghan City is under siege and fighting is just three kilometre from the main city but government officials are taking no step to send reinforcement,” he said.

“At the movement a handful of soldiers from police, army and local uprising members are fighting the Taliban,” he said.

This comes as earlier Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed capturing Qara-e-Sufi and Khaton Qala in Shiberghan City. He claimed nine security personnel were killed and 15 other injured in the clash.

Mujahid said one Taliban fighter was killed and two others injured in the clash and a vehicle from security forces was captured.

Police Chief Khawaja Jilani Abubar rejected the Taliban claim and added security personnel had suffered no casualties in the overnight clash.

Nh/ma